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Correa glabra

rock correa

Rutaceae South-eastern Australia

Attracts Pollinators Drought Tolerant Fragrant (light)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Correa glabra is an evergreen shrub growing 3-10 feet (1-3 m) tall and 3-8 feet (1-2.5 m) wide, with a rounded to spreading habit. The leaves are oval to lance-shaped, 0.4-1.2 inches (10-30 mm) long, glossy green, smooth, and aromatic when crushed, releasing a lemon-like scent. Tubular flowers about 0.5-0.8 inch (12-20 mm) long hang from the branches, greenish-yellow to pale green, with four short lobes at the mouth and protruding stamens. Flowering occurs mainly through autumn and winter, when nectar-feeding birds visit the flowers. Small woody capsules follow. The shrub grows on rocky outcrops, hillsides, and along streams in a range of soils. It tolerates dry, rocky sites but can be damaged by hard frost when young and by extended waterlogging.

Native Range

Native to south-eastern Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. Grows on rocky outcrops, hillsides, ridges, and stream banks in dry forest and woodland on a range of well-drained soils.

Suggested Uses

Planted as an informal hedge, screen, or rockery shrub in native and low-water gardens at 3-5 feet (1-1.5 m) spacing. The cool-season flowers draw nectar-feeding birds. It grows in containers of at least 5 gallons (19 L) with free-draining mix.

How to Identify

Recognized by glossy, smooth, oval to lance-shaped leaves 0.4-1.2 inches (10-30 mm) long that release a lemon-like scent when crushed. Tubular greenish-yellow flowers 0.5-0.8 inch (12-20 mm) long hang from the branches in autumn and winter. Separated from Correa reflexa by its smaller, smoother, more glossy leaves and greenish rather than red flowers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 10'

Width/Spread3' - 8'

Reaches mature size in approximately 4 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Fall Winter

Flowers mainly through autumn and winter, from about March to August in south-eastern Australia, with some flowers at other times. Individual flowers last one to several weeks, and the shrub blooms over an extended cool-season period. The flowers carry nectar for honeyeaters when few other plants are in flower.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade in well-drained soils and tolerates dry, rocky sites once established. Water during establishment and in extended dry spells; mature plants tolerate drought but grow more densely with occasional water. It grows poorly in wet, poorly drained soils, which can cause root rot. Hard frost can damage young plants, though established shrubs tolerate light frost. Plants respond to pruning by branching more densely. Few pests affect it, though scale insects occur on stressed plants.

Pruning

Prune after flowering in late winter to early spring to maintain a dense, rounded shape. Tip-prune young plants to encourage branching. Older shrubs tolerate harder pruning into leafy wood, which renews dense growth.